Modern Era Begins in 1980s
Gambling has had at least some presence in Minnesota since the end of World War II. Some forms of charitable gaming have been available to nonprofit organizations – in particular, religious, veterans, and fraternal groups – since 1945. The allowable activities were greatly expanded in 1985, and remain popular to this day. While these groups are required to get licenses in order to offer gambling, they can then host a variety of products, ranging from bingo to raffles and pull tabs.
The early 1980s would see the introduction of parimutuel betting to the state. In 1982, legislator proposed a constitutional amendment to allow horse racing, and voters approved that proposal the very next year. By 1985, Canterbury Park had opened in Shakopee, and continues to offer about 70 days of racing each year. A second track, Running Aces, was opened in Columbus in 2008.
As in many states such as Florida, the late 1980s saw a rise of interest in Native American gaming. After the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was passed in 1988, there was a push by several tribes to assert their right to build casinos on their reservations, and the state has since entered into many compacts with tribal groups in order to facilitate the development of such resorts. Today, 18 different Indian casinos are operating in the state.
Compared with many places in the United States, a state lottery was actually a rather late arrival here. The North Star State wouldn’t approve their lottery until 1989, when the legislature voted to create an agency to oversee drawings. Today, the state not only hosts their own games, but also participates in Powerball and Mega Millions, the two gargantuan jackpot games that are available throughout most of the country.
The most recent change to Minnesota’s gaming industry took place in 2012, when the state authorized bars and restaurants to offer electronic versions of pull tab games. The idea behind the machines was to help fund a new stadium for the state’s NFL team, the Vikings. Originally, it was hoped that these games would contribute about $350 million to the stadium, and also help charitable organizations at the same time, as they would also retain the right to offer the electronic options.
Unfortunately for officials, the games never brought in anything close to the revenues that had been projected. Whether it was a general lack of understanding about the games, issues with the manufacturer providing them, or a distaste for the idea that the machines were providing public financing for a football stadium, the pull tabs never took off like it was hoped. While some venues have been successful with the games, and other taxes have been levied to help pay for the stadium, the experiment has largely been seen as a flop overall.
